Move and win roundup: BBDO, FleishmanHillard, Isentia, Kantar TNS and more

PEOPLE MOVES

Sun Life Financial appointed Jeremy Young as CMO for Asia. He has been with the company since 2008 and was most recently CMO for Hong Kong. He will remain based in Hong Kong, reporting to Roger Steel, president of new markets and business development for Sun Life Asia. 

Samantha Kennedy, formerly of chief operating officer at Evidently, has joined BBDO Singapore as regional business director, effective 9 February. Prior to Evidently she was managing director at McCann Enterprise London, and held senior roles at Rapier London, RMG Connect and Creston PLC.

FleishmanHillard appointed Yu Li, senior vice president and partner, to regional talent development lead for the region. She was previously head of talent development for Greater China and joined the agency in 2005.

Kantar TNS appointed Stephane Sanchez as regional head of customer strategies, based in Singapore. He joins from Caterpillar, where he was global customer experience and design project manager.

Petra Masinova joined Isentia as global director of strategic partnerships. She was formerly global CEO of Newton Media Group, and also worked as CEO of McCann Prague and head of communications for Central & Eastern Europe for BXR Group. 

Jacques Erasmus left his position as managing director at Havas Riverorchid Myanmar after two and a half years with the agency. His portfolio included Ooredoo, Nivea, Hansaplasts, Bosch and Johnson & Johnson. 

BUSINESS WINS

After a pitch, Moët Hennessy appointed WPP AUNZ’s specialist retail practice, The Store, to lead through-the-line brand activations incorporating brand strategy, customer-centric insights, design and communications, in both on- and off-premise locations across all the client’s brands. The agency previously worked with Chandon, Glenmorangie and Cape Mentelle; the new remit adds brands including Dom Pérignon, Krug, Veuve Clicquot and Belvedere.

Pure Group appointed Sinclair Communications to lead integrated PR for Pure Fitness, Pure Yoga, Pure Apparel and Nood Food in Hong Kong. The agency will work with an internal PR team to drive brand strategy and proactive storylines.

AKA Asia was named agency of record for Sony Mobile Singapore and Sony Electronics Singapore. AKA saw off 27 agencies in an open pitch, and has already begun PR working for Sony Mobile. Work for Sony Mobile Social and Sony Electronics will begin on 1 March. 

OTHER NEWS

The Marketing Group, which bills itself as a “digital marketing and advertising agglomeration”, announced that its wholly owned Australian creative branding subsidiary ChannelZero acquired The Content Agency, a provider of premium video content and content strategies based in Sydney. Clients of The Content Agency include Studio Canal, Study Adelaide, University of Technology Sydney, Universal Music Group and BBC Worldwide.

Government affairs consulting firm Vriens & Partners and FleishmanHillard announced an affiliate partnership, which the companies said offers a compelling combination of regional integrated communications capabilities and local policy expertise.

The Marketing Society and Brand Learning announced the return of their International Marketing Leaders Programme (IMLP) in Asia. The selective programme aims to coach the global marketing leaders of the future, and is designed to reflect the unique markets and challenges of marketing in Asia.

PROI Worldwide boosted its Asean presence by welcoming Thailand’s Midas PR to the network. The agency was founded in Bangkok in 2007.